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05/20/1998 (2) . . . .' ;.' < l' '.) l ~. ~ " r.: .1 {y{*~\:/t;\;:';\i:<:f;;\:i,'.'..' "i.,. :.'.:' , '.1/.' . , 'l" '.-' ;,} :.' .. ~;r: ,1 +~ . ~{.:.: ~" (/-.~. , . " '~~';I~ :i. n: J~ . I ~} : ~. :' ., ~". }.,'; ( .J'.', ,. -., ~ .. .' '..iI,J ~>.\ '. ,. ',:; -:'. . 'I:"c ~I,i. :. )' . ~.' . ;:: \. ~.: , ., i. .. .. ;1 , .. ,. I" I , , ; .. '-10 .' ~ ,., ....~(i . ~ I' .,.. , '::,' . I. ',:.,/ EAB . ~ 1..' ~~+. :..'. .I ", :~~;~"; , .' . ~nvironmental Advisory Board Minutes :};~::I.:. .. \,'1 -;, ;'." ~l):.~.~r :. '",r' .:~' I":, , " ., . '. ", " .D'ate '. . , '11 E ."'1 \\ I. ,. ..' .' . :, ',. . .1 ., .:5'8/ ";." e ., i;-~:<:,. :.:.,:: : ;. '. ; .;,::~': . ' ~ . ~. ", . ,,', " c ~ ,> .. ,,:~ c, o ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER May 20, 1998 , Present: Whitney Gray Alan Smith Jill Melkonian Anne Garris Dan Mayer Gwen Legters David Rhame Chair Vice Chair Board Member Board Member PD&E Project manager Board Reporter Board Member Absent: To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. A. Call to Order and Approve Minutes - April 3 & April 15, 1998 The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. Member Garris moved to approve the minutes of the April 3 special meeting as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Garris moved to approve the minutes of the April 1 5 regular meeting as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B. Commission liaison Report - Member David Rhame The board reviewed a memo from Mr. Rhame reporting status of landscaping improvements at Clearwater's East Wastewater Treatment Plant. In the memo, he suggested language for a motion by the EAB (Environmental Advisory Board) thanking City Manager Michael Roberto for his efforts to improve Clearwater's entranceway. Member Garris read Mr. Rhame's suggested motion into the record: The Environmental Advisory Board thanks the City Manager, Mr. Michael Roberto, for implementing a goal of' , the Environmental Advisory Board to address environmental concerns along Clearwater's east entrance by having the East Plant Waste Water Treatment facility landscaped. The motion was duly seconded. Amending the motion to "beautification concerns" was suggested. It was noted the EAB may appreciate beautification efforts, but beautification is not necessarily an environmental. Member Garris withdrew the motion with the seconder's consent. Concerns were expressed the board did. not want landscaping confused with attention to environmental concerns. Consensus was for Chair Whitney Gray to write a letter thanking Mr. Roberto for his efforts to beautify the East plant. C. City Correspondence The board received and reviewed a welcome letter to Mr. Jack Adams, member of Safety Harbor's new environmental board; correspondence among West Coast Regional mea0598 1 , OS/20/98 '!~l...'\oi'P"""')..:I~ ~,' ~ I,,' , ........ "~~'~,::' ':" ~ .{, . " ~i':' .\' .> ' .:.~ " . '" ,,' - ~. " ,:> CJ .. ,. ',,' . I Water. Supply Authority, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, and Tampa Bay National Estuary Program regarding desalination proposals under consideration; and Mr. Rhame's May 12 memo to the EAB regarding East Plant facility landscaping. Brief discussion ensued regarding concerns that desalination projects satisfy water supply objectives while meeting goals for bay restoration and protection. O. Monthly Site Plan Assessment Review Summary Concerns were expressed that potential jurisdictional wetlands and tree preservation concerns are not being addressed adequately on the Encore Senior Living site. City Landscape Architect Tim Kurtz provided general status to date regarding these issues. The Board requested an update at the next meeting. E. Confirm Agenda Chair Gray reviewed changes in the board's agenda format. 1. Consent Agenda -- None 2. Old Business a.. One City. One Future. - Whitney Gray Ms. Gray reported on her successful meeting with the City Manager to present scope of the EAB/s work and discuss the board's role in Clearwater's future. The City Manager stated, and the code rewrite consultant confirmed, that the new code will not abolish the ,EAB. Board members expressed concerns that potential elimination of the EAB had been cited as rationale for not refilling two expired seats and subsequently reducing EAB membership from seven to five members. General. discussion ensued regarding the Citv Manager's position that the future City regulatory board should have an environmental representative. 3. New Business a. Florida Yards and Neighborhoods - Shannon Waters The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program was created five years ago by the Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay NEP's (National Estuary Program) to provide education to help residents adopt environmentally friendly landscaping practices. Shannon Waters and Chris Clause from the Pinellas County Cooperative Extension gave a slide presentation regarding ecological landscape management. The presentation promoted the benefits of a beautiful, low maintenance "Florida Yard" that saves water and reduces pesticide and fertilizer runoff to riversl lakes and bays. A homeowner's checklist identified biological and ecological benefits, invasive nonnative species, alternatives to maintenance-intensive turf grass, choosing locations for deciduous trees to provide passive heating and cooling, plant selection designed to filter pollutants from groundwater and take advantage of existing soil pH, water and light conditions., Benefits of recycled mulch were reviewed. mea0698 2 OS/20/98 ,," ~I.,-" J' 't' I 'j . " . ~: ,; .\ ~.: ..\.:; .,' ~.. . "~'. ,,'... .... I \, ;,..... .'. " ,,\ ,: '. '. '. .'. t',: .., ~ I$itl~ Cl;<'f" J ',,.-/ . In response to questions, Ms. Waters explained pros .and cons of turf grass, noting the program encourages taking advantage of the diverse opportunities provided by Florida's 68 native species. She explained participation in the program by homeowners who complete the checklist and get their yards certified, working with homeowner associations and developers to recruit neighborhoods, advertising, and opportunities for neighborhoods to compete .for grant dollars. b. East Plant landscaping - City Landscape Architect Tim Kurtz Mr. Kurtz explained the ongoing work, in cooperation with the City's Parks and Recreation Department, to improve aesthetics and function of landscaping at the plant. He dis.played photographs of the project, discussed selection of native species to reduce need for fungicides and pesticides, drainage, existence of mangroves, creating an aesthetic theme for the building, use of reclaimed water for irrigation, and palm tree siting. In response to questions, he said $32tOOO was set aside for the project, but bids came in at about $28,000. He did not foresee any opportunity for citizen volunteers to help plant trees, but welcomed volunteers to contact him about how they could participate in other City landscaping projects. c. Reclaimed Water Cooperative Funding Agreement - Mr. Street Lee Street Lee, with the engineering firm, McKim & Creed, discussed implementation of the reclaimed water project. Starting with one million gallons per day (mgd) of reclaimed water, the project has the potential of producing more than 16 mgd as pumping stations and storage facilities are developed over the next 20 years. Two cooperative funding agreements with Southwest Florida Water Management District ISWFWMD) are going for City Commission approval on June 18: 1) reimbursement of the cost of the Master Plan update, and 2) funding for portions of the North Beach project and a pumping/storage facility at the Northeast Plant. The City's Capital Improvement Project (CIP) bUdget includes funding for the City's share out of water and sewer revenues. He related costs and funding allocations in the cooperative agreements. He discussed reasons for resetting the reclaimed water rate structure to balance costs. Because revenues will be small while the program is in its infancy, initial capital project development funding must come from the City's water and sewer funds. He asked for the board's endorsement of the two agreements to the City Commission. In response to questions, he discussed reasons the City must fund distribution costs. Mr. Lee will try everything he can to keep the reclaimed . water project within the estimated budget, but noted contract prices fluctuate. The board was pleased to note the City works so well that it continues to attract cooperative funding. Member Garris moved to recommend to the City Commission approval of two cooperative funding agreements between Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the City of Clearwater for: 1) reimbursement of the cost of the Master Plan update; 2) partial funding of design and construction of the North Beach project and Northeast pump station and storage facility. The Environmental Advisory Board commends the City of Clearwater Public Works Administration for establishing the reputation of performing so well that they continue to attract cooperative funding. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. mea0598 OS/20/98 3 . . "" ~ I;.:: ,'." '1'..\' .+.~"'~', :......... ..'~','.. '." . ., ~~:;:;< ....:..; .': ... I .,. . .. I ':I..~ . . . " ,. . . ~ ><) ~ ..~ I " ! , . ~; ~ + j ,.:: ~ '.':-', . .,;.' ,., . . .' . '" j.~' f '. ", ",. :'0" ,; 'I ..C) ,. Ii,.: oil. ~. ;.:~; ~I '''.:' \; '..t '..... , .. '.' '. . \ ~ ~. . ~. . ~ :.,. . ' .~ ~ , .. ..... ' ':::'.' . ."r '. '.:,'. " '4 .. , ..'j4 . .. ".;. ~~ . '. '. ;:~'. ~, o " . !.,.. .... ,', ,', ~. . , .. ( ,-, d. : Penny for Pinellas Status Dan Mayer provided background on how a list of Penny for Pinellas projects Is developed. Once Penny for Pinellas is approved, the list can be changed and reprioritized. Referring to a spread sheet of the projects as reprioritized after Mike Roberto became City Manger; Mr. Mayer noted which projects will not be funded from "Pennies" funds. After the "Pennies" tax was approved, staff took a hard look at how much all the projects on the list would cost. The numbers were recalculated; and it was determined "Pennies;' funding would be at least $28 million short to accomplish the projects on the original list. The . projects below the dark line across the spread sheet have not been killed; but will need other funding sources to take them forward. Mr. Mayer had no information on .why the priority decisions were made; and suggested setting a special meeting to discuss this issue; or tak.ing it up at the next meeting. Strong concerns were expressed the projects above the line are primarily construction; .while projects below the line are mostly environmental. Mr. Mayer said the City anticipates restructuring utility rates to fund some of the infrastructure projects from the lower part of the list. It was indicated. the Clearwater Beach Association voted to recommend that, . because of the excessive amount of money needed for the bridge; that the bridge be postponed .and those funds used for other projects. General discussion ensued projects th.at were omitted from "Pennies" funding, and the possibility of setting a special meeting to discuss the issue. e. Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) Program Status - Postponed F. Citizens Agenda - None G. Establish Agenda for June 17, 1998 1 . Penny for Pinellas priorities 2. Encore Senior Living Center update 3. Stormwater Utility Rate Study 4. ,Tampa Bay Estuary Program Action Plan 5. Solutions to Avoid Red Tide 1ST ART) H. Adjournment. The me'eting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. ard 4 OS/20/98 ~:.: ", ~, . :::;~: :..:~;.;~~;'~~://;::::.:/':;~;. ~.: >::'~~.\'I'.:\:."~': ..: ,~~:' ',': ,.'~"::' ,';....:;;. '..t. ...~...~:.~. ';'. ~:\:~ ., , '; ',., t .., ,I ."'...~:,. '. "'.r:., ...1.' .. ., '\ ~"..'..;. /.:. ',...J....I.~:;:..:...~:~,.,:.::~;~.:::..:./. ".,t ..',:' ..' ;~.. ;': ..".;.;\ >:. > . ..:,~:; I,' :..~:: ',~:~.~:).::.;~~.:::'i.~ ::..:.:.. :::-';';':. ,:.:.... ;~:' :,' _,.:.:...:;\',:i...:., :,. . .\:,~," : .'.< !':.;.':::..- "., .':":',~' .:1:::.: <,::..<:.::.,.,:.:..,. ;'~::~:;<':'.'.:~.:.'~""... },~ '. . . ",.,. ....1. ~'. .,,':. /...". ...T ".:..:~:.~~~':~'.~<";:;'..'.~'~".. _ _ .. '.' .,,'. . ..' ..... .. ".